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History of Vernon County, Wisconsin. Together with sketches of its towns and villages, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens.

64
HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.
April 29, 1874, to March 10, 1876; George H. Paul, from April 29, 1874, to March 10, 1876 ; Joseph H, Osborn, from April ^9, 1874, to March 10, 1876; Dana C. Lamb, from March 10, 1876, to Feb. 1, 1878; A.J. Turner, from Feb. 1, 187s, to Feb. 15, 1882; N. P, Haugen, from Feb. 15, 1881, and now in office. The "Potter Law" was resisted by the railroad com¬ panies, but ultimately the complete and abso¬ lute power of the people, through the Legisla¬ ture, to modify or altogether repeal their char¬ ters was fully sustained by the courts both of the State and the United States. The necessity for railroads in Wisconsin began to be felt while yet it was an appendage of Michigan territory. Great advantages were anticipated from their construction. There was a reason for this. Explorers had published accounts of the vvonderful fertility of Wisconsin's soil, the wealth of its broad prairies and forest open¬ ings, and the beauty of its lakes and rivers. From 1836, with the hope of improving their condition, thousands of the enterprising yeomanry of New England, New York and Ohio started for the territory. Ger¬ mans, Scandinavians, and other Nationali¬ ties, attracted by the glowing accounts sent abroad, crossed the ocean on their way to the new world ; steamers and sail-craft laden with families and their household goods left Buffalo and other lake ports, all bound for Wisconsin. With the development of the agricultural resources of the territory, grain raising beciame the most prominent interest, and as the settlements extended back from the lake shore the difficulties of transportation of the products of the soil were seriously felt. The expense incurred in moving a load of pro¬ duce seventy or eighty miles to a market town on the lake shore frequently exceeded the gross sum obtained for the same. All goods, wares and merchandise, and most of the lumber used were hauled by teams from Lake Michigan. To meet the great want, better facilities for transportation, railroads w^ere an indispensable
necessity. Between the years 1838 and 1841, the territorial Legislature of Wisconsin char tered several railroad companies, but with the exception of the Milwaukee <fc Waukesha Rail¬ road Company, incorporated in 1847, none of the corporations thus created took any particu¬ lar shape. There are now in Wisconsin the following railroads, costing, in round numbers, $150,000,000: Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul; Chicago & Northwestern; Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha; Milw^aukee, Lake Shore & Western; Wisconsin Central; Green Bay & Minnesota; Green Bay, Winona & St. Paul; Wisconsin & Minnesota; Chippewa Falls & Western; Fond du Lac, Amboy & Peoria; Prairie du Chien & McGregor; Milwaukee & Northern; Chippewa Falls & Northern, and Wisconsin & Michigan. Other lines are still needed, and present lines should be extended by branch roads. The questions, as we have seen, upon which great issues have been raised between railway corporations in Wisconsin and the people, are now happily settled by securing to the latter their rights, and the former, under the wise and conciliatory policy pursued by their managers, are assured of the safety of their investments. An era of good feeling has sticceeded one of distrust and antagonism. The people must use the railroads, and the rail¬ roads depend upon the people for sustenance and protection.
In 1874 the Wisconsin commission for the purpose of fish culture was organized. The ncxt year, by reason of State aid, the commis¬ sion was enabled to commence work. In 1876 was completed the purchase of grounds, the erection of the buildings, and the construction of the ponds (seven in number) of the Madi¬ son hatchery, situated in the town of Fitch- burg, Dane county. A temporary hatching house was continued for some time in Milwau¬ kee, for the hatching of spawn of the white fish and lake trout. The commission was re¬ organized in 1878, the number of the members being increased from four to seven. Appro-

History of Vernon County, Wisconsin. Together with sketches of its towns and villages, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens.

Title of work

History of Vernon County, Wisconsin. Together with sketches of its towns and villages, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens.

We believe that online reproduction of this material is permitted because its copyright protection has lapsed or because sharing it here for non-profit educational purposes complies with the Fair Use provisions of the U.S. Copyright Law. Teachers and students are generally free to reproduce pages for nonprofit classroom use. For advice about other uses, or if you believe that you possess copyright to some of this material, please contact us at asklibrary@wisconsinhistory.org.

History of Vernon County, Wisconsin. Together with sketches of its towns and villages, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens.

Author

Union Publishing Company

Publication Date (Original)

1884

Format-Digital

jpeg

Publisher-Electronic

Wisconsin Historical Society

Rights

We believe that online reproduction of this material is permitted because its copyright protection has lapsed or because sharing it here for non-profit educational purposes complies with the Fair Use provisions of the U.S. Copyright Law. Teachers and students are generally free to reproduce pages for nonprofit classroom use. For advice about other uses, or if you believe that you possess copyright to some of this material, please contact us at asklibrary@wisconsinhistory.org.

Publication Date-Electronic

2008

Identifier-Digital

Vern1884067

Full Text

64
HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.
April 29, 1874, to March 10, 1876; George H. Paul, from April 29, 1874, to March 10, 1876 ; Joseph H, Osborn, from April ^9, 1874, to March 10, 1876; Dana C. Lamb, from March 10, 1876, to Feb. 1, 1878; A.J. Turner, from Feb. 1, 187s, to Feb. 15, 1882; N. P, Haugen, from Feb. 15, 1881, and now in office. The "Potter Law" was resisted by the railroad com¬ panies, but ultimately the complete and abso¬ lute power of the people, through the Legisla¬ ture, to modify or altogether repeal their char¬ ters was fully sustained by the courts both of the State and the United States. The necessity for railroads in Wisconsin began to be felt while yet it was an appendage of Michigan territory. Great advantages were anticipated from their construction. There was a reason for this. Explorers had published accounts of the vvonderful fertility of Wisconsin's soil, the wealth of its broad prairies and forest open¬ ings, and the beauty of its lakes and rivers. From 1836, with the hope of improving their condition, thousands of the enterprising yeomanry of New England, New York and Ohio started for the territory. Ger¬ mans, Scandinavians, and other Nationali¬ ties, attracted by the glowing accounts sent abroad, crossed the ocean on their way to the new world ; steamers and sail-craft laden with families and their household goods left Buffalo and other lake ports, all bound for Wisconsin. With the development of the agricultural resources of the territory, grain raising beciame the most prominent interest, and as the settlements extended back from the lake shore the difficulties of transportation of the products of the soil were seriously felt. The expense incurred in moving a load of pro¬ duce seventy or eighty miles to a market town on the lake shore frequently exceeded the gross sum obtained for the same. All goods, wares and merchandise, and most of the lumber used were hauled by teams from Lake Michigan. To meet the great want, better facilities for transportation, railroads w^ere an indispensable
necessity. Between the years 1838 and 1841, the territorial Legislature of Wisconsin char tered several railroad companies, but with the exception of the Milwaukee